(a) All contracts for any improvement or unit of work, when
the cost according to the estimate of the engineer will exceed
fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000), shall be let to the lowest
responsible bidder or bidders as provided in this article. The board
shall first determine whether the contract shall be let as a single
unit, or divided into severable parts. The board shall advertise for
bids by three insertions in a daily newspaper of general circulation
or by two insertions in a weekly newspaper of general circulation
printed and published in the agency, inviting sealed proposals for
the construction or performance of the improvement or work. The call
for bids shall state whether the work shall be performed in one unit
or divided into parts. The work may be let under a single contract or
several contracts, as stated in such call. The board shall require
the successful bidders to file with the board good and sufficient
bonds to be approved by the board conditioned upon the faithful
performance of the contract and upon the payment of their claims for
labor and material. The bonds shall comply with Chapter 5 (commencing
with Section 9550) of Title 3 of Part 6 of Division 4 of the Civil
Code. The board may reject any and all bids.
(b) The board may have work done by force account without
advertising for bids or by informal bidding procedures in any of the
following situations:
(1) All proposals are rejected.
(2) No proposals are received.
(3) The estimated cost of the work does not exceed fifteen
thousand dollars ($15,000) until January 1, 1989. After January 1,
1989, the estimated cost of the work shall not exceed ten thousand
dollars ($10,000).
(4) The work consists of channel protection.
(5) The work consists of maintenance work, except that informal
bidding procedures may be used only where the estimated cost does not
exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000).
(6) The work consists of emergency work. In case of an emergency,
if notice for bids to let contracts will not be given, the board
shall comply with Chapter 2.5 (commencing with Section 22050).
(c) The agency may purchase in the open market without advertising
for bids, materials and supplies for use in any work, either under
contract or by force account, except that, materials and supplies for
use in any new construction work or improvement, except work
referred to in subdivision (b), may not be purchased, if the cost
exceeds fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000), without advertising for
bids and awarding the contract to the lowest responsible bidder.
(d) As used in this section, "informal bidding procedures" means
that the board shall, at a minimum, award a contract to the lowest
responsible bidder after publishing a notice which generally
describes the work to be performed and invites written bids in a
newspaper of general circulation in the agency once a week for two
successive weeks. The board shall obtain a minimum of three written
bids.